System analysis of ultrawideband instrumentation radars: impulse versus stepped-chirp approaches

James M. Ralston

doi:10.1117/12.145520

28 May 1993 System analysis of ultrawideband instrumentation radars: impulse versus stepped-chirp approaches

James M. Ralston

Proceedings Volume 1875, Ultrahigh Resolution Radar; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.145520
Event: OE/LASE'93: Optics, Electro-Optics, and Laser Applications in Scienceand Engineering, 1993, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

As part of an ongoing effort to determine the utility of Ultra-Wideband radar systems for military application, an experimental program was developed and executed to collect terrain clutter data using high resolution waveforms in the UHF spectral region. Two approaches to the design of the radar instrumentation to be used to collect this data were considered: an impulse system with a nominal 1 nsec pulse duration, and a 'conventional' stepped chirp instrumentation radar covering the same frequency range. A novel feature of the program was the use of a scanned linear aperture to simulate the use of a large, ideally-weighted real aperture antenna system. In this paper we report the theoretical analysis done to predict and compare the performance expected from either system approach. This analysis is presented in terms of the noise-equivalent reflectivity of the clutter measurement system, time to collect data, and the impact of the linearly scanned aperture on sensitivity, angular resolution, and data collection time.

Citation Download Citation

James M. Ralston "System analysis of ultrawideband instrumentation radars: impulse versus stepped-chirp approaches", Proc. SPIE 1875, Ultrahigh Resolution Radar, (28 May 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.145520

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